York Technical College Second Advisory Committee Meeting

MET/EGT Programs

June 5, 2002 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Founders Federal Credit Union Room

Officers Present:

Keith Costly: Williams Engineering

 Dwight Mize: Siemens Westinghouse

Charlie Pratt: Marshall Air Systems, Inc.

Ken Green: Power Engineering

Marc Tarplee: York Technical College

Mohammad Hossain: York Technical College

Karl Strieby: York Technical College

Mr. Hossain called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm in absence of the Committee Chair Mr. Bruce Hickman who could not be at the meeting due to an emergency. After exchange of the greetings, Mr. Hossain asked everyone to review the minutes from the November, 2001 meeting. Dr. Tarplee asked members to bring up a motion for approval of the minutes if no modification was necessary. Minutes were unanimously approved. Mr. Dwight Mize brought up the motion for approval of the minutes in favor of the group and Mr. Ken Green seconded the motion.

Mr. Hossain opened his presentation with the status of enrollment for the three programs he manages. He presented the enrollment numbers for the current academic year. Mr. Ken Green asked about the enrolment figures from last year and Dr. Tarplee added that the figures remained at pretty much the same compared to last year. Mr. Hossain quoted Dr. Tarplee's prediction that there might a 10% surge in student enrollment if the state lottery money becomes available. In reply to a question by Mr. Mize, Dr. Tarplee mentioned that IET division student enrollment has decreased by about 2% over the last six years. Mr. Mize also asked about the average age of the students at YTC, Dr. Tarplee said that average age of students has also come down from 27 years to about 23 years.

Mr. Hossain presented employment placement data for graduates of the current academic year. Graduate of all programs are 100% percent employed with exception of one who is currently attending at Clemson University. At the request of a member, Dr. Tarplee mentioned that the following colleges offer a four-year B.S. in engineering technology and accept our graduates as juniors

-UNCC

-Appalachian State University

 -Orangeburg State University

The next topic of discussion was co-op placement of student with the local area industry. Mr. Keith Costly mentioned a few criteria that the sponsor company would like the incoming coop students to have. He asserted that co-ops should have good communication and listening abilities and Mr. Mize emphasized that they should be able to understand and follow instructions; he would like them to ask questions before they start. They should have good time management skills and should meet the assigned deadlines. Mr. Hossain mentioned a few company names that are currently sponsoring MET/EGT student co-ops. Mr. Costly inquired about student's requirements for the co-op placement. Mr. Hossain said that a student could be placed on co-op when he/she finishes 12 credit hours of course work as freshman at York Tech. He continued that the co-op system benefits the students by giving them on the job experience, benefits sponsor-employer by getting to know a potential employee and it benefits MET/EGT as a great recruitment tool. Students earn one credit hour for 80 hours of work. Co-op work must be related to engineering technology, design or manufacturing. Mr. Pratt was very impressed with the performance of our co-op students including CAD operators, and production type interns. [3]*

Mr. Hossain asked members' opinions on use of latest technology in classroom instruction, which includes on-line and web-enhanced courses through use of the "smart classrooms." Mr. Mize asked what a "smart classroom" was. Dr. Tarplee took the question and explained that smart classrooms are spread throughout the campus equipped with direct web access though (LAN and WAN) powerful computers, multimedia carts, permanently installed LCD projectors in the ceiling and projector screens. Both CD ROMs and videos can be cast through the LCD projectors to a permanently installed screen. [2]

Mr. Pratt and Mr. Mize commented on their experience with some the engineering graduates from other four-year colleges. They were surprised that many of the fresh engineering graduates have not taken any CAD classes and were not able to produce CAD drawings unlike those from York Tech. They always looked for MET/EGT graduates from York Technical College when an opportunity becomes available. [4]

Mr. Hossain reported to the committee that 3D modeling software AutoDesk Inventor was introduced into the program and Mr. Strieby would be teaching this course. Mr. Hossain also reported that most EGT and MET courses are now web-enhanced. [2]

Mr. Keith Costly inquired why CET program was discontinued and if there is any attempt to bring this program back. Dr. Tarplee replied by saying that there were not enough enrollments in the program to support it and was dropped about the time he came on board with YTC about six years ago. He also added that to sustain a technology program there should be a minimum of six graduates per academic year. Mr. Costly wanted to know more about the CET and EGT curricula, and students learning goals and objectives in these programs. Mr. Hossain is to send each member the DACUM profiles of each program with the minutes. Members would review them and provide feedback as to how these two programs could be further modified and enhanced. [1]** Mr. Charlie Pratt was interested to know which three counties are served by York Technical College. Dr. Tarplee said that York Tech officially serves York, Chester and Lancaster counties. Mr. Hossain asked members' suggestion on the type of new technology MET/EGT students should be learning in the classroom. Mr. Pratt recommended that we teach NC programming and AutoDesk Inventor and, Mr. Mize suggested that we teach wire EDM machining. Mr. Hossain mentioned that students have many opportunities to take these classes as electives with the Machine Tool Technology (MTT) department. [3]

Mr. Ken Green asked about the difference between EG diploma and EGT associate degree. Mr. Strieby explained the difference between the two programs in terms of course contents and duration. Promptly thereafter Dr. Tarplee followed by a question to the committee whether there was really any need for such entry-level draftspersons (which is what EG diploma produces.) Mr. Green emphasized that there was definite need for a lot these EG diploma holders and his own firm employed many of these EG diplomas.

Mr. Hossain asked members about the prospect of back-to-industry professional development opportunities for the MET/EGT faculty members. All members responded very positively and suggested that it would be a great opportunity for faculty to learn what the companies really do and what the graduates need to know to be successful on the job. Both Mr. Ken Green and Mr. Mize mentioned that there are opportunities within their companies for professional development for the MET/EGT faculty. Dr. Taprlee added that to make it easy on the sponsor, YTC could provide some financial support to the participating faculty for this type of professional development activity. He recommended MET/EGT faculty to investigate this issue in the future. [4]

Mr. Mize and Mr. Costly inquired about the selection criteria for the committee members. Mr. Hossain mentioned that membership criteria are listed on page 2 of the 'Advisory Committee Handbook.' He said that members are usually technical experts in their field of work and selected with the recommendation of the current committee members. Dr. Tarplee added that committee members are sought from a broad spectrum of industries, people with passion for technical education and, involved in manufacturing, construction and service industry.

Mr. Hossain asked the committee to conduct a self-evaluation using the forms provided. Committee member completed the forms and also provided oral feed- back of their experience of the membership in the committee and its effectiveness. These are in file with Mr. Hossain and can be viewed on request. [5]

Meeting adjourned at 7:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Mohammad Hossain Department Manager MET/EGT Programs

APPENDIX G Standards for Advisory Committee Effectiveness

Each credit degree program/cluster designed for immediate employment of graduates must have an active advisory committee. The following are annual expectations for these program advisory committees. The department manager must maintain documentation of the completion of each standard. In January of each year, department managers will report the previous year's accomplishments to the Office of Planning and IE for inclusion in the Performance Funding report and scoring.

Please complete the following checklist:

APPENDIX G
Standards for Advisory Committee Effectiveness

Each credit degree program/cluster designed for immediate employment of graduates must have an active advisory committee.  The following are annual expectations for these program advisory committees.  The department manager must maintain documentation of the completion of each standard.  In January of each year, department managers will report the previous year’s accomplishments to the Office of Planning and IE for inclusion in the Performance Funding report and scoring.

Please complete the following checklist: